Understanding the specificity and complexity of inter-firm knowledge flows in alliance networks

Abstract

Research on inter-firm knowledge transfer is burgeoning, yet our understanding of its specificity and complexity in the context of alliance networks remains rather unclear. The main purpose of this paper is to examine how knowledge-specific characteristics, such as a partner’s knowledge base, learning intent, absorptive capacity, knowledge protectiveness, and cultural distance each impact differently on knowledge transfer performance in alliances. This paper suggests that, although the emergence of alliances provides an ideal platform for acquiring knowledge resources, certain challenges are still embedded in inter-firm knowledge transfer process. We also suggest that certain moderating relationship factors (including intensive interaction, inter-partner trust relationship and cognitive shared understanding) may help us understand knowledge transfer in cross-cultural alliance settings. By aggregating and consolidating existing research, our study identifies promising avenues for future research.